Ski Blog | Archive P70/2018

Five Reasons To Travel To Your Ski Holiday Resort By Coach

Guest Blog by Patrick Thorne 

Although (or perhaps because) it offers the cheapest way to go skiing, coach travel can be seen as the poor relation of flying, or even self-drive or rail to the Alps.

But that can be a mistake if you’re prepared to consider the full realities, and benefits, of going on your ski holiday by coach.

Why Ski At Easter?

Thirty years ago, going on a family ski holiday was considered a real luxury, or at least only reserved for those who are in the upper reaches of the middle classes. Now, in the wake of budget airlines, better transport facilities and more affordable accommodation, the ski holiday has become a lot more accessible and feasible.  Having said that, the Government and authorities are certainly seem to be trying their hardest to make it as difficult as possible to go on a family ski trip.

Officially, we are not allowed to take our kids out of school to go on trips (even ones like a ski holiday that will benefit them greatly in the great University Of Life), so we are forced like cattle to only go away in school holidays.

Now, with the ski season only five months at best in Europe, our choices are limited to Christmas, half-term and Easter.

It goes without saying that the February half-term is often the most snow sure, but for this reason it is the most popular time of year to go and so therefore can be busier out there on the slopes. 

Another factor to consider is that because Half-Term is at the peak of the ski season, it can be colder out on the mountains.  Make sure you have all the proper gear including neck warmers that you can pull up over your nose to keep the bitter wind and driving snow away from your face

Christmas is a pleasant time to go and there is something magical about being in snow at this time of the year. But, whilst many people believe December, January and February are the only months where snow covers the Alpine slopes, there’s actually far more to offer beyond that and many believe the best is yet to come.

The Easter break falls right in the middle of that late season period and it’s my personal favourite time to hit travel to the Alps.  It’s normally quieter on the slopes that it is during the other school holiday times and the snow is usually surprisingly good and in recent years it has been fantastic at Easter with a fresh dump of snow fall across most large areas of the Alps.

For me though, the best thing about Easter Skiing is the weather.  There is no better feeling than shredding the slopes in bright glorious sunshine!  There seems to be a different and relaxed ambiance out on the slopes, with many skiers and snowboarders casually weaving down the slopes without a jacket on, and in some cases, just a T-Shirt.  At lunch times, the mountain restaurants have rows and rows of deckchairs full of skiers and snowboarders packed out with sunglasses, tanning themselves as if they are on a beach in Benidorm.  In these conditions, a very high sun block screen is a must (including a lip seal) - it is amazing the amount of people who do not bother or simply forget and then look like a lobster by the end of the day.

The days are also longer and brighter so you can squeeze more slope time out of the afternoon.  And believe me, you will want to!  I have always found that because the weather is warmer, I am not itching to get off the slopes and head to the nearest alpine bar to get a hot chocolate or Glühwein as soon as it is 3pm Instead, I want to shred every minute that I possibly can until the chair lifts close, then head over to the nearest deckchair with a cold beer in hand (and of course with the mandatory sunglasses on), to drink in the atmosphere and beauty of the Alps, enjoying the warmth on my face of the last rays of sun that the day has to offer.  Bliss!

Easter skiing is also cheaper because it is not peak season, with excursions and lift passes reduced in price from that of the Half-Term holidays. Family ski holidays can be expensive so booking for Easter really can save a lot of money.

So the next big question is where to go?  The obvious answer to this, just like in the quiz show Play Your Cards Right (if you are old enough to remember the 80’s show presented by the one and only Bruce Forsyth) and go Higher!  The higher the resort the more snow sure it is likely to be.

In France, you could consider the Espace Killy resorts of Val d’Isère (1,850m) and Tignes (2,100m). Val d’Isère has many north facing slopes and so it’s not as affected by the spring sunshine as some other ski areas.  Tignes is not only higher, but it also boasts glacier skiing at Grande Motte (3,400m) which can stay open for 9 months of the year!

Val Thorens (up to 3,200m) is Europe’s highest major ski resort and is about as ‘snow sure’ for Easter as you can get.  Also, while considering France, you can do no wrong in heading over to the Paradiski area to Les Arcs and La Plagne, This vast ski area is one of the biggest in the world and offers something for everyone; including glacier skiing.

If you want to travel further afield than France, then you may want to consider Zermatt (up to 3,899m) in Switzerland. Zermatt has a huge glacier ski area as well as some of the highest slopes in Europe.  The scenery is spectacular with the iconic Matterhorn dominating the skyline.

In Austria, the lively resort of St.Anton (up to 2,450m) boasts a great snow fall record for March and the beginning of April with fresh snow dumps not that un-common. 

So, if you want a family ski trip on a budget, would rather ski in glorious sunshine rather than being so cold that your toes feel as if they are being gnawed by a snowvole, and enjoy a more relaxed atmosphere with less crowds, then Easter time is for you.

Mark Barber

Go for a Ski Weekend and Save Your Holiday Days for a Summer Vacation

This is a guest blog by Mark Barber from Ski Weekends.

I hate February!  With Christmas decorations boxed up and packed away in my loft long ago and the New Year’s Day annual hangover being all but a distant and fading memory, the days are short, nights are long and it is cold!  Not that I have ever been a morning person, but getting up from my warm, snug, duvet for work in the midst of winter requires more will-power than bending spoons.

It is always at this time of year that I want to get away from it all and being a keen snowboarder, I have a yearning (or is it a spiritual calling?) for the mountains.  But, the problem is, and I am sure this is the same for the majority of people, my holiday days allowance from work are at a premium with spare ones rarer than magical Pixie gold dust, or silverware in the West Ham Trophy Room.

It goes without saying that the bulk of the allocation of days will be for the summer vacation with spare days needed for those unknown circumstances such as weddings, funerals and those excessively long stag/hen weekends in Las Vegas or Barcelona (what is wrong with a weekend in Bournemouth?).  With all this in mind, quite often a week skiing or snowboarding can seem like a luxury that your holiday days allowance will not permit.  Even the office king of taking ‘sickies’ could not hold off with pretending to have the flu all week, especially if calling from the airport with flight announcements being a complete giveaway.

But have you ever considered going skiing or snowboarding for a long weekend?  Although we do not have the ease of passage to the Alps that our continental friends enjoy, where all they need to do is throw their skis, snowboard, cheese and salami sandwiches, and a bottle of Red in the back of a car and head to the mountains, it is a lot easier than you probably realise!

With Geneva Airport your gateway to a white snowy paradise, the majority of French Alpine resorts are easily reachable.  For instance, the flight to Geneva from a London airport will only take about an hour and a half.  From Geneva, it is possible to be sipping a glass of wine while sitting in a hotel bar at the ski resort of Morzine, in just over an hour (I have tried and tested this theory with success!).

Morzine has grown in popularity over the years and, with its neighbouring ski resorts of Avoriaz and Les Gets, makes an ideal location for a ski weekend.  Quick and easy to get to, it is ideal for both skiers and snowboarders of all levels.  Morzine also has a lively après ski scene that is not as expensive and damaging on the wallet as some of its French cousins such as Val d’Isère.

Also, a hop, skip and jump away from Geneva are the two heavyweights of the Alps, The magnificent Three Valleys and Paradiski ski areas.  Paradiski is the joining of forces of Les Arcs and La Plagne by the giant Vanoise Express double-decker cable car.  Paradiski is vast and is mainly built up of purpose built ski in - ski out resorts that are well designed for skiing and very convenient.  For those in your group that would like to explore other activities, the new Mille 8 complex should keep them busy with toboggan runs, themed ski areas, cinema, restaurants and themed swimming areas.

One of the biggest ski areas in the world, the Three Valleys offers something for everyone of any ability.  The endless terrain of slopes would keep you busy for months, let alone just for a weekend!  An ideal base to explore the Three Valleys is the beautiful resort of Meribel.

If you do not fancy flying then a coach journey is an ideal budget friendly alternative as it will take you to the resort of Brides Les Bains, which is situated in a valley just under Meribel and only a chair lift away.

Not only is travelling by coach easy on the pockets and more environmentally friendly than flying, it will also give you more slope time because you travel and sleep through the night, picking up your ski lift pass when you arrive at the hotel early morning.

If you think coach journeys are like those old school trips with coaches that looked like they were designed by bored soviet engineers with dusty flowery patterned curtains across the windows, then think again.  Luxury coaches are comfortable, have on-board toilets and tea/coffee making facilities, and are an ideal way to travel and take the usual stress out of the journey - just sit back and relax!

For those who do choose to fly, the trip starts on a Thursday, returning on the Monday. Ideally designed to save the amount of work days you need to take off while maximising slope time.  Ski lift passes are pre-booked and handed out on arrival so you can catch that first ski lift in the morning, without the hassle of long queues to get your lift pass.

So here is the perfect scenario; don't worry about having to book a whole week off work to get your ‘ski’ or ‘snowboard’ fix out on the slopes.  Book a long weekend which will give you plenty of time to shake off those winter time blues and relax, take the stress out on the mountain and enjoy a touch of après ski.

Leaving you with enough guilt-free holiday day allowance to enjoy that summer vacation that you spend all year looking forward to.  Go soak up some sun and laze on a beach, go surfing, or go on an African Safari.  Whatever you do, enjoy yourself, knowing that by going on a ski weekend, you really can have the best of both worlds.

Mark Barber

Where to ski at half term?

A family ski holiday can be one of the most memorable and rewarding experiences that you can give your children.  A break from the games consoles and TV to experience the stunning scenery and mountain air in their lungs that you simply can’t find at home in the UK. Taking a ski holiday can also be a great physical workout, but in a fun way.  Certainly more healthy than the kids playing Minecraft while eating Doritos.

A family ski holiday is also a great way to bring everyone closer together, away from the daily stress of work or school.  A chance to unwind without the usual distractions of modern family life.

Having said all this, as parents we are very limited to when we can book a ski holiday.  Unless you are a school governor or Head Teacher (so it seems!), we are not allowed to take our children out of school for a ski holiday and so we’re forced to go in school Holiday time.  Punishment for disobeying this rule is a heavy fine and receiving 10 lashes of the cat ‘o nine tails and banged up in the London Dungeon (okay - so that was a slight exaggeration, but you do get my point.)

Half Term is the obvious choice of the holidays as it is at the peak of the ski season so greater odds of snow.  Having made that choice, the next one is where to go?

The French Alps is the most popular destination for the Brits and that is not likely to change any time soon.  The French resorts are mostly easy to get to whether by air, coach, train or car, offer well organised ski schools, and great facilities.  Most of the French Ski Resorts have invested heavily over the last few years and many have super-fast ski lifts, fantastic snow making facilities and demonstrate a very slick and well run operation.

Morzine

Morzine is one of the easiest and quickest ski resorts you can get to from the UK.  With a short flight from Gatwick to Geneva, followed by an airport transfer that is around one and a half hours, I can go from sitting in the airport lounge to enjoying a drink at my hotel/chalet in Morzine in no time at all.

Unlike a lot of the purpose built ski resorts that are scattered across the Alps, Morzine has an authentic feel to it and has great character.  It is also great value for money and although an ever-increasingly popular resort to go to, Morzine has not succumbed to mass commercialism and remains very affordable for a family on a budget.

There is a good choice of British or French run ski schools in Morzine, including the popular Club Des Piou Piou for the little ‘uns  (from 3 years old) which is organised by the ESF school. There is a good choice of gentle and well sheltered slopes for the kids to progress on at their own pace. There are also plenty of childcare nursery options, so you can go and spend a few hours enjoying the mountains. 

Morzine is part of the Portes Soleil linked area, and with easy access to the Les Gets and Avoriaz, the area is vast!  There is something for everyone with runs for all abilities and equally enjoyable for snowboarders as well as skiers.

Overall, Morzine is fantastic for a family ski holiday that will not break the bank.

Paradiski

The linking of the two popular resorts of Les Arcs and La Plagne via the impressive Vanoise Express (a super-fast double decker Gondola that can carry 200 people) created Paradiski, one of the biggest ski areas in the world.

Both La Plagne and Les Arcs are fantastic for families with their purpose built ‘ski in, ski out’ resorts - perfect for ease of access.  What they both lack in the way of authentic village charm and charisma, these resorts make up for in being built for purpose.

There is a good choice of ski schools with beginner slopes, moving ‘magic’ carpets and safe zones.  There are also plenty of other activities to keep the whole family amused with climbing walls, toboggans and the chance to speed down on an Olympic Bobsleigh run.

Mille 8 is a new and exciting family entertainment and leisure development on the slopes.  Features include a Discovery Piste themed ski track through trees that has been designed to be an educational but fun experience for the whole family to enjoy.  There is also a Sledge Run, a kids play area, large restaurant, swimming pools, and for the more advanced, freestyle runs. 

Mille 8 cost 36 million Euros to develop and is an ambitious vision of creating experiences for the whole family to enjoy.

Meribel (Brides Les Bains)

If you don't want to fly then travelling by luxury coach would be a more affordable alternative.  Not only that, travelling through the night will free up some more slope time to enjoy!

If you do wish to travel by coach then you should consider Brides Les Bains, sited below the resort of Meribel, a quiet town that is ideal for families to use as a base to access the magnificent Trois Vallées ski area.

Meribel is only a 25 minute Gondola ride away and is perfectly central to explore the Trois Vallées.  Meribel is also great for beginners and families with gentle slopes including a long, wide green slope run at the Altiport.  There is also an impressive choice of ski schools to choose from at Meribel, many of them British run.

For those who are beginners, it may be more cost efficient to stick to the local area (Meribel) ski lift pass.  Of course, if you are more ambitious then the Trois Vallées offers endless terrain to explore.

As you might expect from one of the world’s top ski resorts, Meribel can be a little pricey, but Brides Les Bains is a lot more reasonable and although quiet, has plenty of bars and restaurants to choose from.

Overall, travelling to Brides Les Bains by coach is a great way for a family to experience the impressive Trois Vallées area and in particular Meribel, without paying the usual extortionate prices usually expected from the neighboring resorts.

Mark Barber

Where’s the snow?

Are you panicking yet?  Have you got a Christmas ski holiday or New Year ski trip booked and been scared by the media that you won’t have any snow when you go skiing?

Yes it’s the usual annual media free for all - writing scare stories, overhyping, sensationalising and making things up!  Really? The press do that? Surely not I hear you say!  Afraid so I say!

It seems to happen every year – either at the beginning of December or nearer Christmas depending on what they have to fill up their grubby pages with.

Right now if you believe the press you’d think it was a disaster but there are loads of resorts opening early.  How does that work then?

It will snow – it always does.  It’s just a case of when does it arrive? Sometimes it comes early and sometimes later – last year for example Christmas skiing wasn’t great but over one weekend it dumped and New Year week was powder snow heaven!

Not so great if you were out at Christmas of course but the panic and concern for New Year skiers was gone overnight – well unless you were stuck in a snowy traffic jam for 12 hours!  You can’t win can you?

Anyway we can’t control it and if you skied at a certain time last season it doesn’t mean that the weather and snow will be equally good or bad at the same time this season!

Yes I do really get phone calls asking to go the second week in March as last year the snow was…… anyway that’s a different story!

Whenever and wherever you go we hope you get a load of snow!  

And if you don’t then remember you are on holiday and get out and explore the resort and fill your days with all of those off slope activities you keep meaning to do every year but never do because you don’t want to miss a days skiing. Enjoy! 

The Do’s and Don’ts Of Skiing For Beginners

This is a guest blog by Amber Kingsley.

Amber is a freelance writer for RedSeven and loves sharing her tips for winter destinations. As an avid skier and snowboarder herself, she knows how intimidating that first ride can be but hopes these tips will encourage other wanna-be snow bunnies to give the slopes a try.

Nothing can ruin the perfect winter holiday by skipping out on the slopes. If you’re just starting out and you’re intimidated by the eight year olds dashing by you on their miniature skis like there’s no tomorrow, don’t worry.  There are a few tips you should look into before your first (or second) lesson, just to know what to expect and what you can do to make things easier for you so you can enjoy the snow covered mountains of your favorite winter destinations.

DO: Bend those ankles

As a beginner, bending your knees is the golden rule. But what they’re not telling you is that you’re not actually bending your knees per se, but your ankles. The knees follow along and this gives you a good stance. What it does is get your shanks to slide to the front of your boots, which in turn will make you have a better control over whatever you’re doing (we won’t call it skiing just yet). Bending your ankles also makes your whole body absorb shocks (like bumpy terrain) Check that your heel is sitting comfortably in your heel cap to make sure you’re doing it right.

DON’T: Lean forward

This is a general advice plenty of instructors tend to give, but if you’re smart you’ll aim to be central and avoid leaning forward. This way, you’ll be able to use the entire ski and turning will be a lot more precise. Leaning forward is a very imprecise suggestion anyway and what you should get out if it is the need to vertically align your body over your hips and over your feet. Stand up straight and see how that modifies your stance. You’re not going jet-fast, like pro skiers who actually need extreme body bending!

DO: Wear the right gear

Wearing jeans make you look silly. Wearing jeans also makes you never want to go skiing again, so try and avoid going to your first lesson in your regular clothes. Falling will be on the agenda for your first lessons, so you and the snow will get acquainted quite well and, if you’re not wearing special clothing, your encounter will get a little too intimate. If you don’t have a good pair of boots, snow pants and a warm jacket, you might as well just watch the sports channel at home. All of these items are usually rentable in resorts, so there’s no excuse to go unprepared.

DON’T: Learn from your friends

A good idea when you’re new to skiing is getting an instructor. With a teacher, you’re on neutral ground. The rules are unspoken and set because of the formal relationship you both know you have. Skiing is difficult and can get frustrating at first, so learning from someone close to you might turn into a disaster. If that someone is your lover or your spouse, you run the risk of directing the whole anger towards them and quitting the whole thing sooner than you should. Even if your friend is a professional skier, you’re still on safer ground with someone you’re not familiar with.

DO: Look forward

A long time ago, when you started riding a bike, you were told not to look at the wheel because, guess what, you were at risk of falling. Skiing is the same. When you look at the tips of your skis you lose focus and you end up missing obstacles or losing your direction. Look at least ten feet away to make sure you can anticipate whatever might come at you (or whatever you might ski into).

DON’T: Be a couch potato

If you’ve booked a two week skiing trip in advance and all you can do before you get there is google weather conditions and buy gear online, you might also mentally prepare yourself for a physical shock. Ok, you might be an athlete or you might work out three time per week. If that’s the case, there’s nothing to worry about, google away.

But if that’s not you, you might be faced with a problem when you reach the slope. Skiing is really challenging for your body and it will drain you (in the best way possible, really) of your energy. Getting your body in shape before the whole ordeal will make sure your muscles won’t protest on your second day of skiing.

Finally, take a moment to breathe and don’t worry about how bad your first lessons are. Hint: they’re all bad. Nobody is graceful on his first day. We all looked like idiots in the beginning. But the feeling you get when you look over the white slope with confidence, without worrying you might fall or hit something, is hard to compare to anything else.

Top 5 Things to do in Les Arcs

 This is a guest blog by Laura of Snow Crazy

Here's our Top 5 things to do if you are on a ski or snowboard holiday in Les Arcs!
 
1. Ski from the top of the Aiguille Rouge at 3250m down to Villaroger at 1200m...with 7km of piste it's one of Europe's longest runs. At the top experience the stunning 360 degree view by climbing a short slope to an Orientation Table.
 
2. Stop at the rustic Les Chalets de l'Arc for a 'chausson' for lunch, a whole meal cooked inside a large loaf of bread baked in the highest bakery in Europe at 2220m altitude. Enjoy the very pleasant piped music of cow bells and birds chirping in the loos!
 
3. Hop on a sledge after hours and get on the Rodeo run, a purpose built 3.5km toboggan run that will thrill you and chill you!
 
4. Take the double decker Vanoise Express cable car over to La Plagne and ski La Plagne for the day! Built in 2003 at a height of 380m, it carries 200 skiers across nearly 2km of thin air taking 4 minutes either way. When it first opened, it was the biggest, longest and fastest cable car in the world.
 
5. Try the Flying Kilometre, hitting speeds of up to 250km/h, it's an adrenalin rush to beat them all! Launch yourself on specially provided skis down a steep one kilometre stretch of piste whilst being timed. Open to everyone age 7 or over.
 
Do all these things whilst staying at Chalet Eagle's Nest or Chalet Marigold with Snowcrazy (www.snowcrazy.co.uk).

January and March are now on offer at just £500pp.
 

On a Ski & Snowboard Holiday in Morzine

This is a guest blog from Anna Casswell who loves going on ski & snowboard holidays to Morzine - here's why...

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I love Morzine for two main reasons – The Stash and The Mutzig!

The Stash in Avoriaz is a fun snow playground with natural wooden features.  You can ride down through the trees and discover the rainbow logs, picnic tables, wooden benches and walls, look out for Shreddie the big wooden stash monkey. There are different routes with different hits, and it’s much less scary than going in the Parks with the big boys and the loud music and the hard metal boxes and rails!

Mutzig is the infamous lager that is served in several places, but the best place of all has to be Bar Robinson. No English Seasonaires serving here, Robbos is run by 3 old French locals and it closes at 8pm so you must go straight from the slopes, enjoy 3 or 4 glasses (any more and you might regret it) and have fun staggering back to the chalet in time for dinner remembering to pick up your board/skis on the way out.

I love getting tipsy whilst still in my snowboard gear, sobering up over dinner, getting to bed before midnight (I am nearly 40) and getting up bright and early with no hangover, ready to hit the Stash again.

When not skiing, boarding and er.....drinking Anna helps run Plumb Solar who are experts in the installation of, servicing and repair of Solar Thermal Systems - helping keep your energy bills down & slowing the global warming so we can all go on ski and snowboard holidays for longer!  

Five things to do in Morzine!

This is a guest blog from Guide2Morzine who provide all the information you need about Morzine and surrounding areas.

Morzine in the Haute-Savoie region of the French Alps is where I call home.  In my opinion Morzine is a ski resort like no other.  Rather than being a purpose built ski village with no life outside of the snowy months, it is a thriving market town with a large year round population and a summer season nearly as busy as the winter.  Starting out as a farming and slate mining community, Morzine began to be developed as a ski resort in 1920.  The original Pleney lift opened in 1934.  This year (2013) this lift is being replaced with a brand new state of the art gondola.  Over recent years, Morzine and it’s neighbouring ski station of Avoriaz have seen huge development.  They are now connected to 11 other resorts to create the enormous Portes du Soleil ski area.  The Portes du Soleil is arguably the largest connected ski area in the World with over 650km of groomed pistes, 10 snow parks, 2 half pipes and 4 boarder cross areas.  Morzine has become one of the most popular French resorts for snowboarders and here you will find much more equality between the two disciplines than in other areas.

It isn’t just about the skiing and snowboarding here though.  During the summer months the lifts re-open for walkers and mountain bikers.  Bikers flock here from all over the World to take on the challenging tracks of the Portes du Soleil and the area plays summer home to many mountain bike teams.  There are literally hundreds of kilometers of walking and hiking trails including the famous GR5 which runs right through the mountains surrounding Morzine.  The area is also popular for road cyclists with many large cycle races coming through during June, July and August.  The Tour de France comes through every few years too and Morzine is home to one side of the famous Col de Joux Plane which has been known to break many a cyclist.  There are so many other sports on offer that I couldn’t name them all but a few include; climbing, white water rafting, canyoning, tennis, swimming, ice hockey and so many more.  Of course if you want to relax summer or winter then you can.  There are loads of luxury hotels and chalets, many with there own spas on offer.  You can enjoy the beautiful new Morzine swimming pool (Espace Aquatique) with it’s saunas and hammams or have a massage with one of the many therapists based here.  In the summer the weather is lovely and hot and there are plenty of outside spaces to just soak up the sunshine.

To see why I love it here so much you will need to check it out for yourself.  For those interested in coming to work and live in Morzine there is a huge international population here during the winter months.  There are always thousands of jobs on offer and a lot of seasonal accommodation too.

5 Things not to miss in Morzine

1) Ski the Swiss wall

The Chavanette run which takes you from the top of Avoriaz down into Les Crosets in Switzerland is said to have the largest moguls in the World and is one of the steepest runs too.  This one is not for the faint hearted!

2) See an Ice hockey match at the Skoda Arena

Watch ‘Les Pingouins’ HCMAG (Hockey Club Morzine Avoriaz les Gets) in action at the Skoda Arena in the centre of town.  The local team are in the top Ice hockey league in France and watching them is always an exciting night out.

3) Jump from the top of a mountain!

Parapenting is such a fantastic way to get a birds eye view over the mountains and town.  There are many pilots who can take you on a tandem parapente in Morzine, just ask at the tourist office or your accommodation when you arrive.

4) A walk around Lac Montriond

Summer or winter, Lake Montriond is stunningly beautiful.  In the winter it is frozen solid with snow on top and there is a path which is cleared around the edge of the lake.  In summer you can swim, kayak or just sunbath at this lovely spot which is a favourite with locals and visitors alike.

5) Take in the view of Mont Blanc from the top of la Rosta in Les Gets

Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in the Alps, is just a few kilometers away at Chamonix.  From the top of many of the peaks in the Portes du Soleil you can see this majestic giant.  However the view from the top of la Rosta in Les Gets is unbeatable.

Saalbach

Austria continues to grow in popularity amongst Briish skiers, and with many putting 'big ski area' at the top of their resort wish list, he resorts of Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn are ready to provide this winter. Known as the 'Skicircus' this is the largest ski area in Austria, independently verified as having 270km of piste. What's more the unique layout of the mountains and runs means you can ski all day, following the sunshine, and never skiing the same same run twice.